Hi ModelTech Magic fans;

I have been flying the old version of the Magic 3D for some time now and have worn two of them out. I have now assembled and flown the new version (V2). The pull-pull cables vs steel push rods are a needed improvement. My main reason for writing this is to warn you of the new bolt on wing. While getting ready to epoxy the stabilizer to the fuse, I mounted the wing to ensure accurate placement of
the stabilizer. One of the wing bolts slipped completely through the wing and threaded bolt holes, the other fit so loosely that I was afraid to try and tighten it sufficiently to hold the wing in place. My fix was to glue a wooden block under each side of the wing mount,
retap the holes to 1/4-20 and use the larger nylon bolts. The plane flys every bit as good as the original, maybe better.

Sonnytex

Hi SunnyT,.. what engine do you have on yours? I just assembled one, the old version, and have a Thunder Tiger 46 pro on it.Im using a funfly prop, an APC 12.25x3.75 and just cant find the sweetspot to get it to hover(if it will even do it) . Of course my 3D skills are lacking as well [sm=drowning.gif]
Thanks,
John

One of the selling points for this plane was that it will hover with a .46 engine. Maybe you have the CG too far forward. The CG has to be back to get a good hover going.

Actually I did have the suggested cg rearward a little by placing 2 and 1/2 oz of lead ( the dreaded word, lol) in the back of the fuse, but didnt like the way it handled so I removed about one oz from that. It just seems to fall off to one side rather quickly,... maybe its just me(?)
Thanks,
John

John,

Sorry to take so long to get back to you. Your TT .46 should be plenty of engine for about any manuver you want to do with your Magic 3D. I had a .46 OS fx on one plane and a .46 OS AX on the other. Both engines would take it out of sight vertically, no problem. I now have a TT 54 4-stroke on the new plane and it too is plenty of engine. The OS .46's do pull it better though. I tend to stick with an 11x5 or 11x6 on all of these engines since they tend to spool up faster than using a 12 inch which gives a little better control of 3D efforts.

Sonnytex

My TT PRO.46 liked the APC 12x4 much better than the 12.25x3.75, it spools up quicker and would hover my 5lb Twist no problem.

I recently won one of these at a club raffle. I am planning on retiring one of my SPADs and swiping all the gear for this plane. The engine is an OS .46LA. How do you think it will fly? I do not fly 3D, I just want a fun flying aerobat.

mclina,

The .46LA should work just fine - the AX/FX are stronger engines but the LA is still good enuf. This is a very light plane and
a 46 is at the upper end of suggested engines.

Sonnytex

Thanks for the reply SonnyT, Im going out to the field tomorrow morning and going to try changing the props and give it a whirl... will report back to you.

I decided I wanted to go electric instead. I have the plane all ready to fly, hopefully I can maiden it this Friday.

I went with this motor:

http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/s...idProduct=3887

With a 45 amp ESC. I have a 3S 2150mAh LiPo in it, with a 10x5 prop, and it pulls like crazy. I cannot wait to try it out.

My all up weight came out at about 3.24 pounds.

I'll report back once I know how this setup flies.

Here's a couple of shots of the power system. The battery I stuck in for the photo is smaller than the one I plan on flying. I tested it this afternoon, and I got about 6 minutes at half throttle with the 2150 3S pack. I know that if I want to fly aggressively, I will need a larger pack.

I had to mount the motor 1.25" off the firewall to get it to balance. If I go to the larger battery, I just need to remove a spacer.

I also put on bigger tires to help it balance. The stock tires are very lightweight.

I guess I have plenty of prop clearance.

Still planning on a maiden this Friday....

I have now flown this plane seven flights, and it is a blast. My first trip to the field was a bit windy, and I didn't bring an assistant to time my flights, but I got in four flights.

It was a tad tail heavy with the 2150mAh pack, but it climbed like mad, and fought the wind pretty well. While I was recharging the 2150 pack, I stuck BOTH of my 1550mAh 3S packs in the plane and plugged them in one at a time. Obviously, the flights were pretty short, but still fun, and the plane balanced much better. After the 2150 pack recharged, I strapped two AA batteries to it for added weight and took it back up. It was really windy by then, but very fun to fly.

When I went home, I soldered up a Y harness so I could run the two 1550 mAh packs in parallel. I also added spacers to move the motor forward by 1/4".

I went back to the field again yesterday, with no wind, and with my trusty 10 year old assistant armed with a stopwatch.

I flew the 2150mAh pack, with a few extended vertical climbs, for just under 6 minutes.

I flew again with the two 1550mAh packs in parallel. Got the same perfomance, and had a flight of a few seconds short of 9 minutes.

After about a 30 minute charge on the 2150 pack, at 3 amps, I took it up for another six minute flight. It just gets more fun every flight.

In summary, we were at the field for just under an hour, I got in two six minute flights and one 9 minute flight. I am trying to decide if I should buy a couple more 2150 packs for $20 each, or four more 1550 packs for $15 each. I looked at ~3500mAh packs, but they are closer to $50 minimum. (These prices are all Zippy packs from Hobby City.)

I've been scratching my head trying to figure out a good way to replace that tail skid on a new version 2 arf build, any thoughts on a tail wheel mod? Anyone?

FlyFanatic,

I put a tail wheel on my Magic (after it was assembled and flown a few times). I put a hole in the fuse at the bottom and ran the wheel
wire straight up at the point where it should normally fit into the rudder in a normal configuration. I then bent the wire 90 deg to the rear to position it like it would go into the rudder. I trimmed out a channel on the rudder the size of the wire (not completely thru the rudder but just enough to fit the wire. I then fit the wire in the rudder, put some expoxy to fill the channel and let it dry. I then got two control horn bases and put one on each side of the rudder (screwed to each other) to hold it firm. Finally, I mounted the plastic wheel mount to the fuse with screws. Be sure to put a little thin CA into each hole to toughen them. Doing this takes a little patients due to the fact the rudder is always in the way but the tail wheel wire will bend enough to let you get it done. I probably have over 50-60 flights on the Magic since I installed the tail wheel and have had no problems.

Sonnytex

Ugly, but it works. Using a Klett-style tailwheel bracket.

Great info from you both, today I will be deciding which to do today... thanks! Any chance of a picture sonnytex?
balsabuster2003, did you use only one metal pushrod for the rudder? I'm debating on the the pull-pull for both ele/rud or one metal rod each.

FlyFanatic,

I would stick with the pull-pull system - by the way the new version, V2, uses a cable pull-pull rather than the original steel pushrods. I am just now getting ready to go to the flying field . I will send you a picture this evening.

Sonnytex

FlyFanitic,

These are not the greatest pictures but you should get the idea.

Sonnytex

Sonnytex, great pictures, It looks that you offset the rod from center? That is my concern with the pull-pull tube dead center.

FlyFanatic,

It does appear to be off slightly - I made this modification in the field after spending several hours trying to steer the plane in a 20mph wind. You can do a better job I'm sure. It makes a world of difference in how the plane handles on the ground. It has served me well for some time now.

Just so you don't think I wasted your time waiting for the pictures, I maidened my new "Somethin' Extra" today and it is as much, if not more, fun as my Magic.

Let me know how the mod goes - send me a pix if you can.

Sonnytex[sm=thumbs_up.gif]

Sonnytex,
I am 99% done with the magic, I have held off on the rudder to attempt the mod, I have had planes in the past with tail skids and always regretted not trying to mod it after the fact.
The magic is funfly plane number 2 in the hangar, after the twist and actually just acquired a somethin' extra rtf from a kit a guy was selling, it is the second SSE I have owned and it is
another good choice for funflys. The only thing other than the tail skid on the magic I do not like is the transparent covering, not good at all for orientation. Thanks for all the good info!